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Colors pop like rainbows during Ronald McDonald 5K

A slow race of fast friends give back to Ronnie Mac
September 20, 2017

Colors popped like rainbows in the mist and fog Sept. 16 on Lewes Beach. The sounds of distant foghorns soothed and reverberated the bones and muscles of runners for the sixth running of the Ronald McDonald House 5K and Kiddie K.

Garrett Rogers, 11, served as honorary starter; he’s the son of the late Kirk Rogers, a Sussex Central championship wrestler and Army Ranger. Garrett was hit by a car in Millsboro last May while chasing a baseball. Garrett and his mom spent nearly four months at a Ronald McDonald House near A.I. DuPont Hospital.

The first Ronald McDonald House was established in the 1970s by Eagles General Manager Jim Murray and two doctors. Murray is a local Philly guy who went to Villanova.

The 5K race had 328 finishers and was more festive than fast, with only two runners breaking 20 minutes.

Lance Kauffman, 14, from Milton was first in 19:46, while Cindy Conant, 56, was the first woman and second overall in 19:48.

Cindy was trying to reel in Lance at the finish, but the young lad was having none of it.

Sen. Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes; Rep. Steve Smyk, R-Milton, and Mike Meoli, owner of several McDonald’s franchises, were there to hand out medals in the kiddie race. 

There were teams supporting kids, and the Milton field hockey team was there sporting balloon animal headgear.  

It was just a happening, featuring a diverse group of family and friends, all whom wanted to give back to the Ronald McDonald House that helped them negotiate some tough times.

See www.races2run.com for an expanded list of race results.

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